Kitty Diabetes

Kitty diabetes? Cat’s a fact.

Didn’t know your kitty could get diabetes? You’re not alone, pet-lovers. The disease we thought was reserved for humans can affect your cat, causing blindness and muscle weakness. And while there’s no cure for diabetes, the good mews is that proper care can help your favourite feline live a long, healthy active nine lives.

So, what puts your whiskered wonder at risk for diabetes, anyway? Factors can include ageing, obesity, and plain old genetic predisposition – for all you know, Mama Cat or Sweetie Sr. could have had the disease.

Two types. Mew. Mew.

In one type of kitty diabetes, your cat’s pancreas aren’t producing enough insulin, making it difficult for his body to absorb blood sugar. In type number two, your cat’s body is having trouble using the insulin he’s actually made properly. Hissss!

What in cat’s name is insulin? It’s what helps Simba’s body break down sugars and create glucose, a type of sugar that can be absorbed by his body’s cells. Without enough insulin, your cuddly kitty’s body is not able to break down sugars he’s eaten, causing it to stay in his bloodstream without being soaked up by the cells. So, when all of this sugar builds up in poor Buddy’s bloodstream, he tries to flush it out through his urine. This leads to diabetes symptoms that can range from nail-biting to cat-tastrophic, if left untreated.

Nipping the signs of diabetes.

It’s best to take all of this in kitty steps, pet-lovers – and the first is to know the signs of diabetes to watch for. If any of these symptoms seem like your Scottish Fold, head to your vet, aye, aye!

Drinks more water than usual.

Urinates more frequently or has ‘accidents’ in the house.

Is less active and/or sleeps more.

Has thinning, dry and dull hair.

When checking your Chausie for diabetes, your vet may ask about the signs above, while staring down your cat’s overall health to rule out the possibility of other diseases or infections. He or she may also test your pouncy pal’s urine for the presence of glucose or its breakdown products, plus measure the glucose level in his blood. Your cat will only test pawsitive for diabetes if his glucose is really high in his blood, and blood has been found in his urine.

Now it’s purrfectly natural if you’re feeling concerned about your pick-of-the-litter, but there is good mews: The more you know about kitty diabetes, the better you will be able to work with your vet to manage your cat’s health, paws down. So, you and your feline friend can enjoy many more ‘lives’ together. Mew, mew!